Review: Towers of Gold
Editorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsDull, pollyannaish family history of greed and general financial grubbiness in post–Gold Rush California. Freelance journalist Dinkelspiel, great-great granddaughter of Isaias Hellman (1842–1920), discovered a trove of his papers at the California Historical Society and spent eight years digging through them and visiting collections elsewhere to reconstruct the life of her financier forefather. After a brief personal introduction and an equally brief account of Hellman's quick move to abort a run on his Farmers and Merchants bank in Los Angeles during the Panic of 1893, the author commences a chronological journey through his life. Hellman arrived fairly penniless in Los Angeles (population under 5,000) in 1859 but soon began an archetypal soaring ascension into the stratospheres of wealth. He boasted a mansion, a summer home in Lake Tahoe, successful children and a finger in just about every pie in the California sky: trolleys, oil, water, land, newspapers, higher education and, principally, banking. He consorted with Levi Strauss and competed with the Huntingtons; near the end, he testified repeatedly before grand juries in graft and corruption cases. The author, who often begins chapters with a weather report ("the air was crisp and cold"), offers scant analysis or criticism of her ancestor; the book often reads like a report prepared and delivered by an earnest middle-schooler during Family History Week. She does not consider in any serious, systematic way the deleterious effects Hellman's greed might have had on employees, small businessmen and farmers. (One unappreciative guy took a couple of shots at him but missed.) As she sees it, all was for the greater good of California; it just so happens that her ancestor got exceedingly rich in the process. A well-fed dog with no bark or bite.
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - Leif Erik - GoodreadsThis is a tough one to rate. The information and subject matter borders between 4-5 stars, while the writing is around 1-2. Dinkelspiel writes like the reporter she is, the book is like a series of ... Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - Greg - GoodreadsI would recommend this book to anyone interested in the business/economic history of California or the history of Judaism in California. Traces the history of Isaias Hellman, grandfather of Warren ... Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - Eliot - GoodreadsA very interesting and enjoyable read. I found this book to be informative on a Jewish immigrant's success as a banker,entrepreneur, and philanthropist. It is an amazing story of such a man who played ... Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - John Hellman - GoodreadsI enjoyed reading this bio.A amazing journey of a immigrant from Germany. I enjoyed seeing how California developed into a economic power.with the help of this financier.He helped develop Los Angeles and San Fransico. Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - Mark Weinberger - GoodreadsExcellent! Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - Lilly Miriam - Goodreads5 stars for sure! Fascinating! Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - James G. - Goodreadsa great, easy read that is an important window into the history of the state of California Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - Raphael - GoodreadsIt's hard to imagine, but Los Angeles, the largest city in California and a global metropolis, was originally not poised for such greatness. In "Towers of Gold," Frances Dinkelspiel weaves an ... Read full review
Review: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
User Review - D. Thaddius - GoodreadsVery interesting... so much detail new to me. Read full review
